NATO to fund 10,000 specialized gear sets for Ukrainian women
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In April, Oksana Grigorieva, a gender adviser to the commander of the Ukrainian armed forces, advocated for Ukrainian women to prepare for combat.
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A NATO summit attendee walks through the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
NATO Secretary-General's Special Representative Irene Fellin announced on Tuesday that NATO will finance the initial production of 10,000 bulletproof vests, winter uniforms, and combat boots specifically designed for women serving in the Ukrainian armed forces, as part of the extensive aid package for the country.
"I am very pleased to announce that throughout the NATO comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine, we will fund an initial production of 10,000 bulletproof vests, 10,000 winter uniforms, and 10,000 combat boots for servicewomen in the armed forces of Ukraine," Fellin said during a roundtable discussion at the US State Department.
Amid growing discussions in Ukraine about the necessity of mobilizing women due to the inadequacy of male mobilization efforts on the battlefield, news of the funding emerged.
In April, Oksana Grigorieva, a gender adviser to the commander of the Ukrainian armed forces, advocated for Ukrainian women to prepare for combat, proposing a military service preparation policy modeled after "Israel's" approach.
Currently, approximately 65,000 women are serving in the Ukrainian armed forces, as reported by the media.
Read more: Ukraine sounds alarm: Full mobilization warning issued to citizens
Since the outbreak of war with Russia in February 2022, Ukraine has been in dire need of replacing nearly half a million casualties, as estimated by Moscow.
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated, on March 20, that Ukraine has lost 71,000 men and 11,000 units in 2024 alone.
To address this pressing issue, President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted amendments to conscription rules last month.
These changes include lowering the draft age to 25, automating summons, and granting enlistment officers expanded powers while imposing various restrictions for draft dodgers.
The country's Foreign Ministry has suspended consular services for military-eligible Ukrainians abroad.
Read more: Zelensky mulls signing mobilization bill targeting draft dodgers
On July 1st, German Welt newspaper reported that Ukraine is significantly behind its recent mobilization targets, as the initial plan aimed to mobilize up to 50,000 individuals every three months.
According to Welt, Ukraine is required to mobilize 50,000 individuals every quarter and a total of 200,000 people by the end of the year. Additionally, since May, Ukraine has reportedly released approximately 2,800 prisoners to deploy them to the battlefield.
Last month, Ukraine Defense Ministry spokesperson Dmitry Lazutkin stated that the Ukrainian society must be prepared to "make sacrifices" and relinquish their peaceful lives in order to overcome the threat posed by Russia.
Kiev is revamping its military conscription system to increase the number of soldiers amid setbacks in the ongoing war with Russia, implementing stringent reforms.
“Because this situation, when some people are fighting at the front lines, while others are living their quiet lives, is obviously coming to an end.”
The official noted that life in Kiev contrasts starkly with the situation in the eastern regions of the country, which he described as "abnormal."
“It would be normal if our enemy was weak. But with such an enemy, the whole country and the whole society need to mobilize,” he added.
